Stralman signs Blue Jackets contract at the last minute

An hour before their scheduled arbitration hearing today, Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson told defenseman Anton Stralman that the ugliness about to play out was not to be taken personally.

About 55 minutes later, a deal was struck.

An hour before their scheduled arbitration hearing today, Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson told defenseman Anton Stralman that the ugliness about to play out was not to be taken personally.

About 55 minutes later, a deal was struck.

Stralman, the Blue Jackets' most offensively gifted defenseman and their top power-play point man, signed a one-year, $1.95 million contract that prevented the Jackets' first arbitration hearing.

"Talking to Anton this morning, we both agreed that if we have to go through the process, we have to go through it," Howson said. "I made sure he knew this was part of the business and that whatever was going to be said in that room, we still like him as a player. But the danger of going through it is, it gets very personal.

"It helped to have (Stralman) there this morning, to look him in the eye."

Stralman appeared to carry the biggest hammer as the arbitration date loomed. He is not a polished defensive player, but he possesses what most other Blue Jackets defensemen do not: skill.

But the Blue Jackets held a hammer, too.

By requesting a one-year contract from arbitrator Margaret Brogran in their brief submitted Monday, the Blue Jackets gave themselves the right to cut ties with Stralman if they deemed Brogran's ruling to be too expensive. That would have made Stralman an unrestricted free agent.

Late July and early August - especially this year, when so few clubs have salary-cap room for free agents - is not an ideal time to hit the market.

"You have to look at the options (coming out of an arbitration) hearing, the different scenarios," said Stralman's agent, Marc Levine. "Ultimately, we didn't have to go down that road."

Stralman, who turns 24 on Sunday, made $731,666 last season. He'll be a restricted free agent next summer, again with arbitration rights, if a contract extension isn't worked out first.

Last season, Stralman had six goals and 28 assists, leading Blue Jackets defensemen with 34 points. His 18 power-play assists were tops on the club.

"Anton is a very important part of our defensive corps, and he's very good on the power play," Howson said. "He has to keep working now to become a complete player, but we think he can get there. He can be a very good player."

But other names could join the mix, Howson said. The Blue Jackets have had trade talks with at least two clubs known to be shopping defensemen, Vancouver (Kevin Bieksa) and Toronto (Tomas Kaberle).

"We're still seeing what's out there on the (trade) market, if there's an opportunity that makes sense for us," Howson said. "We're still exploring and talking with a few teams. But if it's not there, we'll stay with this group. I like our (top) seven, I really do."

The Blue Jackets have two hurdles to clear in the coming weeks.

Restricted free agent right winger Mike Blunden, considered a candidate for the fourth line, remains unsigned. And the Blue Jackets' top minor-league affiliate in Springfield is still without a coaching staff.

But the signing of Stralman was eating up lots of man hours in Nationwide Arena the past few weeks.

"There's always a sense of relief that you can come to an understanding (on a contract)," Levine said. "I'm glad we were able to work things out with Columbus. It's a good situation for Anton and his family."

aportzline@dispatch.com

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